SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF WEDDING CEREMONY IN AMARASI KUPANG REGENCY

Abstract

This research is a Semiotic Analysis of a Wedding Ceremony in Amarasi, Kupang Regency. The problems of the study are: firstly, what are symbols found in wedding ceremonies in Amarasi, Kupang regency? Secondly, what are the types of meanings of those symbols? The aims of the study are to identify the symbols found in the wedding ceremony in Amarasi, Kupang Regency, and to describe the meaning of the symbols found in the Wedding Ceremony in Amarasi, Kupang Regency. This study used a descriptive qualitative method. The research was conducted in Sahraen village, South Amarasi, Kupang regency on December 2021. The result shows that there were 13 symbols found in a wedding ceremony in Amarasi, Kupang Regency. They are Oko mama (the place to put areca nut), Pinang (Areca Nut), Sirih (Betel), Kapur (lime), Baju (cloth), Cincin (Ring), Sapi (Cow), Uang (Money), Dulang (Tray), Selendang (shawl), lilin (candle), pakaian adat (traditional cloths) and destar (headband). Types of meanings of those symbols are (a) Cultural meaning, for example, the symbol of oko mama (areca nut box), pinang (areca nut), sirih (betel), kapur (lime), sapi (cow), selendang (shawl), and pakaian adat (traditional clothes). They have cultural meaning because they symbolize a high appreciation for human interaction and building good communication with others in a cultural context. (b) Social meaning, for example, symbols of baju (shirt), and destar (headband). These things contain social meaning because these things are used by the people in communication that refers to the social circumstances of the speakers and related to life in a social group. (c) Conceptual meaning, for example, a symbol of cincin (ring) and lilin (candle). These objects contain conceptual meaning because basically these objects are interpreted from a dictionary. (d) Connotative meaning, for example, a symbol of uang (money) and dulang (tray). These things contain connotative meaning because these things refer to the expression of communication when people deliver a massage without words but by using action.